Training Aid

ABSTRACT

A training aid for practicing inserting a needle in a vein, the aid including:
         a base which is resistant to penetration by a needle;   a tube located on one side of the base;   a covering which extends over the base and the tube, the arrangement being such that the other side of the base can be placed on the skin of a person so that a needle can then be inserted through the covering to penetrate the tube so as to simulate insertion through the skin and penetration of the vein of the person.

This invention relates to a training aid.

More particularly, the invention relates to a training aid for assistingin the training of people to insert needles correctly into a vein. Theaid can be used by persons who need to insert the needle into the veinof another person or alternatively can be used for training persons whoneed to insert the needle into their own vein.

At the present time there are basically two techniques which are usedfor training of people to insert needles into veins. The first techniqueis to train people on live subjects but this has an obvious disadvantagebecause it causes pain and possible injury to the subject upon whom thetraining is carried out. The second technique involves the use ofartificial arms but this has a disadvantage that the practice ofinjecting needles into artificial components is different from the reallife situation, particularly where a person is being trained to insert aneedle in themselves. Also, after the artificial limb has been used, thepuncture marks from previous uses are evident and this reduces the valueof the training because trainees can readily identify the appropriateplace to insert the needle instead of identifying it for themselves.

The object of the present invention is to provide a novel training aidwhich at least partially overcomes the drawbacks noted above.

According to the present invention there is provided a training aid forpracticing inserting a needle in a vein, the aid including:

a base which is resistant to penetration by a needle;

a tube located on one side of the base;

a covering which extends over the base and the tube, the arrangementbeing such that the other side of the base can be placed on the skin ofa person so that a needle can then be inserted through the covering topenetrate the tube so as to simulate insertion through the skin andpenetration of the vein of the person.

Preferably, the covering includes a first layer of padding and an outerlayer which envelops the base, tube and first layer of padding.

Preferably further, the aid includes a second layer of padding whichextends over said one side of the base and beneath the tube.

Preferably further, the covering includes an inner layer of adhesivematerial which is wrapped over the first layer of padding, parts of thesecond layer of padding and the other side of the base, the inner layerbeing located beneath the outer layer.

Preferably further, the base is made of relatively rigid plasticsmaterials; the tube is made of resilient plastics material; the firstand second layers of padding comprise layers of cotton wadding; andwherein the outer layer is a resilient sheet of plastics material havingadhesive on its underside.

In a preferred arrangement, the outer layer is skin coloured and the aidis somewhat raised in the region where the tube is located. Thissimulates the appearance of a vein which has been palpated. The traineetries to insert the needle into the aid so that the tip of the needle islocated in the interior of the tube. With the training aid of theinvention, the construction is such that the initial penetration of thetip of the needle through the outer layer and the first layer of paddingclosely resembles the actual experience of inserting the tip of theneedle through the skin of a real patient. Further, when the tip of theneedle strikes the tube and penetrates it, there is initially somewhatincreased resistance followed by a decrease in resistance as the needleenters the lumen of the tube. Again this closely resembles theexperience of causing the tip of the needle to penetrate the wall of areal vein.

Because the training aid can be applied to a subject at a locationcorresponding to where venipuncture would be carried out, this alsoincreases the value of the training exercise.

In a particular preferred embodiment of the invention, the tube includesred liquid under pressure. The arrangement is such that when the needlepenetrates the tube, the red liquid will flow through the needle and bevisible to the trainee. This gives a visual indication that the vein hasbeen correctly penetrated. This also closely simulates the actualexperience of a flashback of blood which occurs when a needle penetratesa real vein.

The invention also provides a method of training a trainee to insert aneedle in a vein, the method including the steps of:

fixing a training aid having a base and a simulated vein which hassimulated blood therein on the skin of a subject;

causing a trainee to insert a needle into the training aid so as topenetrate the simulated vein; and permitting the simulated blood to flowunder pressure through the needle so as to provide a visual indicationthat the needle has correctly penetrated the simulated vein.

The invention also provides a kit for training a trainee to insert aneedle in a vein, the kit including:

a training aid as defined above;

a self-adhesive transparent patch for fixing the training aid on theskin of a subject; and

a needle which can be used by the trainee to insert the tip thereof intothe tube of the training aid.

The invention also provides a training aid for practicing inserting aneedle in a vein, the aid including:

a body having an upper surface and a lower surface;

the body including a base which is resistant to penetration by a needle;

the upper surface including a ridge which simulates the appearance of apalpated vein;

the upper surface having a covering which can be penetrated by a needle;and

means for mounting the body on the skin of a subject with the lowersurface thereof engaging the skin of the subject.

It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the training aidof the invention would be particularly useful in teaching nursing,medical and pathology students the skill of venipuncture. Also, thetraining aid of the invention can be used to train children and parentsthe skill of venipuncture.

The invention will now be further described with reference to theaccompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a training aid of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the training aid;

FIG. 3 is a schematic exploded view showing the components used to makethe training aid;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view along the line 4-4;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view along the line 5-5;

FIG. 6 shows the training aid applied to the hand of a subject; and

FIG. 7 shows a needle penetrating the training aid.

FIGS. 1 and 2 show a training aid 2 of the invention. The training aidincludes a generally planar body portion 4 having an upper side 6 andlower side 8. The outer surface of the training aid is covered withplastic sheet material which is skin coloured, as will be described inmore detail later. The upper side 6 is also somewhat pliable so that ithas the general appearance and feel of the skin of a patient. The upperside 6 of the training aid includes a ridge 10 which has the generalappearance of a palpated vein. The ridge 10 is formed by a tube 12 whichextends out of the body 4 and terminates in a connector which can beclosed by means of a screw threaded cap 16.

FIGS. 3, 4 and 5 illustrate in more detail the manner in which thetraining aid can be constructed. The training aid 2 includes a basemember 18 which preferably comprises a plate of thin plastics materialwhich is rigid and cannot be normally penetrated by the tip of a needle.The base has a length L, width W and thickness T. Preferably the lengthL is about 50 mm to 60 mm, the width W about 35 mm to 45 mm and thethickness T about 1.5 mm to 2 mm. Suitable plastic material wouldinclude styrene, acrylic, ABS, polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) orpolycarbonate or any other relatively rigid material such as ceramic,metal or wood. The base 18 prevents the tip of the needle passingtherethrough and stops the needle penetrating the skin of a subject towhich the training aid is applied. A first layer 20 of padding materialis placed above the base 18. The first layer 20 has the same dimensionsas the base. The first layer 20 may comprise thin cotton wadding of atype which is applied to a patient before application of a plaster cast.The tube 12 is then located above the first layer 20. A second layer 22of padding material is then located above the tube 12. In theillustrated arrangement, the second layer 22 is of the same material asthe first layer but it is somewhat narrower, for instance having a widthW2 of say 10 mm to 20 mm. The training aid includes a first adhesivefilm 24 which is wrapped about the base 18, layers 20 and 22 and tube 12so as to effectively bind them together into the body 4. The first film24 may comprise a transparent self-adhesive film such as a Tegerdermpatch cut to the appropriate size to envelop the inner components. Theaid includes a second adhesive film 26 which is wrapped about the firstfilm 24 and is adhered thereto. A second film 26 preferably is skincoloured. The second film 26 may be formed from an appropriate length ofSleek tape which is a type of waterproof adhesive strapping made bySmith & Nephew. The layers 20 and 22 of padding together with the skincoloured film 26 give the body 4 the look and appearance of this realskin. FIGS. 4 and 5 are enlarged cross-sectional views which show thebase 18, layers 20 and 22 and tube 12 in their relative positions in thecompleted training aid.

In the preferred embodiment of the training aid, the tube 12 defines alumen 28 which can be filled with red coloured liquid so as to simulateblood. The tube 12 may be formed from a known form of butterfly needlewith attached tubing, the butterfly needle being cut therefrom. Forinstance the butterfly needle may comprise a Terumo SV*23BLK needle madeby Terumo Medical Corporation. The tube in this product has an outerdiameter of about 2 mm and an inner diameter of about 1.5 mm. Typically,the length is about 300 mm. The plastics material which forms the tubeis soft and pliable but can be penetrated relatively easily by the tipof a needle. The plastics material may comprise PVC which has aplasticiser therein to make it soft and pliable with a Shore A hardnessin the range of say 40 to 60 or polypropylene or polymethylene or anyelastomer that will be recognised as useful by one skilled in the art.After the needle has been cut from the tube, a syringe can be used toinject red liquid such as water coloured by red food dye into the lumenof the tube. The syringe can be used to move the coloured liquid to aregion adjacent to the part of the tube where the needle was cut. Theend of the tube can then be sealed by heat sealing or simply by tying aknot therein. The lumen of the tube can then be pressurised so that thered liquid is held adjacent to the closed end of the tube. The liquidpreferably has a length which is somewhat shorter than the length of thebody 4 so that none of the red liquid would be visible in the exposedpart of the tube 12.

The lumen of the tube can be pressurised using a syringe connected tothe connector 14 of the tube. It has been found that forcing about 0.5to 3 ml and preferably about 1 ml of air from the syringe into the lumenof the tube provides sufficient pressure therein, where the tube has anominal length of 250 mm. Prior to disconnecting the syringe from theconnector 14, the tube 12 temporarily is closed adjacent to theconnector by forming a tight bend or kink therein. The cap 16 can thenbe reapplied to the connector 14 so as to maintain the pressure withinthe lumen.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, when the tip of a needlepenetrates the sidewall of the tube 12 so as to enter the lumen 28, thepressure within the lumen 28 will cause the red liquid to flow throughthe needle so as to provide an important visual indication to thetrainee that the artificial vein has been correctly penetrated. Theeffect simulates the flashback which occurs when a needle penetrates areal vein in a subject.

FIGS. 6 and 7 illustrate the use of the training aid of the invention.In this arrangement, the training aid 2 is applied to the back of thehand 30 of a subject. The ridge 10 is oriented in the same direction asthe veins on the back of the hand, as shown. A tourniquet 32 can beapplied so as to simulate the normal steps in venipuncture. In theillustrated arrangement, the training aid 2 is applied to the back ofthe hand by means of a transparent adhesive patch 34. This may, forinstance, be a Tegerderm patch which is sufficiently long and wide tocover the entire body 4 and adhere to the skin of the hand.

It would be possible, of course, to attach the body 4 by other means.For instance, a self-adhesive layer could be provided on the lower side8 of the body. Alternatively, the body 4 could be attached to aresilient band (not shown) which holds the body adjacent to the skin ofthe subject.

Once the training aid 2 has been applied to the skin of the subject, thetrainee can then attempt to insert the tip 36 of a butterfly needle 38into the lumen 28 of the tube 12 within the body 4. FIG. 7 shows the tip36 inserted at the correct orientation through the ridge 10 into thelumen 28. Once this occurs, the red dye under pressure within the lumenwill appear at the end 40 of the tube 42 of the butterfly needle 38.Once correct penetration has been effected, a syringe 44 containing adummy solution can be coupled to the connector 46 of the butterflyneedle 38 and the cap 16 of the tube 12 can be removed. The connector 14can be located within a transparent collecting bag 48. The trainee theninjects the dummy liquid using the syringe 44 through the needle tip 36into the lumen 28. The dummy fluid will then pass through the tube 12and drain into the bag 48. The dummy fluid flowing from the connector 14thus provides a further useful visual indication to the trainee that thevein has been correctly penetrated by the tip of the needle 36. Theneedle 38 may comprise any suitable needle such as a Terumo SV*23BLK.

After all of the dummy fluid has been injected, the trainee can thenpractice the correct technique for removal of the butterfly needle 38.

It has been found that the device of the invention is particularlyuseful for training purposes because the body 4 has the look and feel ofskin, the ridge 10 has the appearance and feel of a palpated vein.Further, when the tip 36 of the needle initially passes into the ridge10 it has a similar feel to actual penetration of a needle into the skinof a patient. Further, when the tip of the needle penetrates the tube 12and enters the lumen 28, it again simulates the effect of penetration ofthe needle into a real vein. The appearance of the red dye at the end 40of the tube of the butterfly needle 38 simulates the flashback whichoccurs when a vein is penetrated. Finally, the visual feedback observedby the dummy fluid flowing from the tube 12 again provides visualfeedback to the trainee that the venipuncture has been successful.

It will further be appreciated that the use of the training aid of theinvention is safe and convenient.

Many modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention.

1. A training aid for practicing inserting a needle in a vein, the aidincluding: a base which is resistant to penetration by a needle; a tubelocated on one side of the base; a covering which extends over the baseand the tube, the arrangement being such that the other side of the basecan be placed on the skin of a person so that a needle can then beinserted through the covering to penetrate the tube so as to simulateinsertion through the skin and penetration of the vein of the person. 2.A training aid as claimed in claim 1 wherein the covering includes afirst layer of padding and an outer layer which covers the base, tubeand first layer of padding.
 3. A training aid as claimed in claim 2including a second layer of padding which extends over said one side ofthe base and beneath the tube.
 4. A training aid as claimed in claim 3wherein the covering includes an inner layer of adhesive material whichis wrapped over the first layer of padding, parts of the second layer ofpadding and the other side of the base, the inner layer being locatedbeneath said outer layer.
 5. A training aid as claimed in claim 1including fixing means for fixing the aid to the skin of the person. 6.A training aid as claimed in claim 5 wherein the fixing means is anadhesive layer.
 7. A training aid as claimed in claim 6 wherein theadhesive layer is transparent.
 8. A training aid as claimed in claim 7wherein the outer layer is skin coloured.
 9. A training aid as claimedin claim 4 wherein: the base is made of relatively rigid plasticsmaterial; the tube is made of resilient plastics material; the first andsecond layers of padding comprise layers of wadding; and wherein theouter layer is a resilient sheet of plastics material having adhesive onits underside.
 10. A training aid as claimed in claim 1 wherein the tubehas an outer diameter in the range 1.5 mm to 7 mm.
 11. A training aid asclaimed in claim 10 wherein the tube has an inner diameter in the rangefrom 1.0 mm to 6.5 mm.
 12. A training aid as claimed in claim 1 whereinthe interior of the tube includes coloured fluid which can flow from thetube when penetrated by a needle.
 13. A training aid as claimed in claim12 wherein the fluid is red to simulate blood.
 14. A training aid asclaimed in claim 12 wherein the fluid is held under pressure in the tubeso that it will tend to flow through the needle when the needlepenetrates the tube.
 15. A training aid as claimed in claim 1 whereinthe tube includes an extension which extends beyond the covering, theextension including a remote end, the arrangement being such that a testliquid can be injected through the needle into the interior of the tubeand then flow from said remote end so as to provide a visual indicationthat the needle has been correctly inserted into the tube.
 16. Atraining aid as claimed in claim 15 wherein the remote end is providedwith a removable cap which, in use, is removed prior to injection of thetest fluid into the tube.
 17. A training aid as claimed in claim 16including a container or bag for collecting the test fluid flowing fromthe remote end of the tube.
 18. A method of training a trainee to inserta needle in a vein, the method including the steps of: fixing a trainingaid having a base and a simulated vein which has simulated blood thereinon the skin of a subject; causing a trainee to insert a needle into thetraining aid so as to penetrate the simulated vein; and permitting thesimulated blood to flow under pressure through the needle so as toprovide a visual indication that the needle has correctly penetrated thesimulated vein.
 19. A method as claimed in claim 18 wherein the traineeis the subject and the trainee fixes the aid to a site using adhesive.20. A method as claimed in claim 20 wherein the trainee fixes the aid tothe site using a transparent film having an adhesive layer thereon whichis applied over the aid and adjacent parts of the skin of the trainee.21. A method as claimed in claim 18 including the step of injecting atest liquid into the vein after insertion of the needle therein.
 22. Amethod as claimed in claim 21 including the step of collecting the testliquid which has been injected into the vein.
 23. A kit for training atrainee to insert a needle in a vein, the kit including: a training aidas defined in claim 1; a self-adhesive transparent patch for fixing thetraining aid on the skin of a subject; and a needle which can be used bythe trainee to insert the tip thereof into the tube of the training aid.24. A kit as claimed in claim 23 wherein the needle comprises abutterfly needle having an attached tube.
 25. A kit as claimed in claim23 including a container which can be used for collection of a dummyfluid injected through the butterfly needle into the tube of thetraining aid.
 26. A training aid for practicing inserting a needle in avein, the aid including: a body having an upper surface and a lowersurface; the body including a base which is resistant to penetration bya needle; the upper surface including a ridge which simulates theappearance of a palpated vein; the upper surface having a covering whichcan be penetrated by a needle; and means for mounting the body on theskin of a subject with the lower surface thereof engaging the skin ofthe subject.